Level 0 Characters for a Dungeon Crawl

After being introduced to Dungeon Crawl Classics, I decided to add some of that Old School flavor to our Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition Apprentice Character Program (ACP). But these Level 0’s aren’t exactly apprentice characters. They don’t have a class yet, and with the Character Funnel method, not many of them are meant to survive very long. The Level 0 characters are just low hit point monster fodder for a dungeon crawl adventure, and most of them will not make it out of the dungeon. If a player runs out of their initial 4 characters, they get a sheet with another four characters to play that are also set at level 0.

So if you have 4 players, there will be a large group of 16 Level 0s delving through the dungeon. Creating that many characters can seem onerous, but I have an spreadsheet generator that helps with character generation, and it can create 4 level 0s on one page for each player. Here is the methodology we are using:

Level 0 Character Generation

1. Race – Random

We make this a Random roll, and we base the result on our Campaign world’s population diversity that I setup. I can manipulate the diversity rather easily in the spreadsheet, and here is what it looks like with rolling d100:

d100 result

Race

01

Dragonborn

02 – 04

Dwarf, Hill

05 – 13

Dwarf, Mountain

14

Elf, Drow

15 – 23

Elf, High

24 – 30

Elf, Wood

31

Gnome, Forest

32

Gnome, Rock

33 – 34

Half Elf

35

Half Orc

36 – 42

Halfling, Lightfoot

43 – 46

Halfling, Stout

47 – 99

Human

00

Tiefling

Once you know the character’s race, then go ahead add racial skills, proficiencies, languages, special abilities

2. Ability Scores – Roll in Order

Roll the ability scores (4d6 drop lowest or 3d6), but put the results in the order that you rolled (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma). The character has a race, so add the racial ability score increases. And if you use Luck, then roll 3d6 for your Luck. Luck is helpful for the DM when choosing which of the 4 characters a player has that runs into an unfortunate accident. 😉

3. Background – Random

It’s a Random pick, but there’s 17 of them, so pull out your 17 sided die if you have one, or use a d20. Each character will gain all the background skill and tool proficiencies, and languages. Each character also starts with the background feature. They receive all of the equipment and gold, and also a weapon based on the character’s background. We treat proficiency with the weapon as normal (see below). Also, wait on filling in character personality traits, ideal, bond and flaw.

d20 Result

Background

Weapon

01

Acolyte

Club (1d6)

02

Charlatan

Dagger (1d4)

03

Criminal

Dagger (1d4)

04

Spy

Dagger (1d4)

05

Entertainer

Club (1d6)

06

Folk Hero

Light crossbow (1d6)

07

Guild Artisan

Club (1d6)

08

Guild Merchant

Light crossbow (1d6)

09

Hermit

Club (1d6)

10

Noble

Shortword (1d6)

11

Knight

Longsword (1d8)

12

Outlander

Quarterstaff (1d6)

14

Sage

Dagger (1d4)

15

Sailor

Club (1d6)

16

Pirate

Club (1d6)

17

Soldier

Longsword (1d8)

18 – 20

Urchin

sling (1d4)

We don’t give out gold to Level 0 characters, but instead give them a few copper pieces (2d4). That can be one of the reasons that the player’s character is going into the dungeon: The lure of gold, or a test required of them by a guild or wizard.

4. Trinkets – Random

Roll d100 for a Trinket. By the way, if the character’s background is a Sailor or Pirate, then roll twice. One of the two trinkets is the character’s lucky charm.

5. Hit Point

Each character has 1d4 hitpoint plus Constitution modifier, and a Hill Dwarf character adds 1 more hitpoint. If the Constitution modifier is negative, and would drop HP below 1, then set HP to 1. That is the character’s maximum hitpoint(s) for level 0. They will receive the remaining hit points when 1st level is achieved.

As an example, for a Level 0 hill dwarf character rolls a 1 on the 1d4 roll, and with a 12 Constitution, would have a total of 3 Hitpoints at level 0

Once Level 1 is reached, if the player chooses Fighter for their character, then the remaining 9 hitpoints would be gained bringing the player’s character up to a total of 12 HP

6. Hit Dice – Not yet

The characters don’t get any HD yet. They can gain hit points during a long rest, or magic healing.

7. Experience Points

Each Level 0 character starts at 0 XP. Each encounter has a minimum of 0 XP and a maximum of 4 XP. When your level zero is at 10 XP, then level up to level 1. The DM will give out experience based on the difficulty of the encounter and each character receives the same XP. Here are the guidelines from Dungeon Crawl Classics:

Each encounter is worth from 0 to 4 XP, and those XP are not earned merely by killing monsters, disarming traps, looting treasure, or completing a quest. Rather, successfully surviving encounters earns the characters XP in DCC RPG. A typical encounter is worth 2 XP, and the system scales from 0 to 4 depending on difficulty.

0 XP – A very easy encounter with little damage or resource loss for the adventurers
1 XP – An easy encounter An encounter with damage and resource loss.
2 XP – A typical encounter. No fatalities or significant losses
3 XP – A difficult encounter. Significant losses, and even a fatality
4 XP – An extremely difficult encounter. Multiple character fatalities, and even retreat required for the remainder to survive.

8. Proficiency

Use a +1 for the proficiency bonus for Level 0 characters. This bonus would apply toward

Attack rolls using weapons that your character is proficient

Attack rolls with spells that your character casts

Ability checks using skills that your character is proficient

Ability checks using tools that your character is proficient

Saving throw DCs for spells that your character casts

Each Level 0 character will also gain proficiency in these basic weapons: daggers, darts, slings, quarterstaffs, & light crossbows.

9. Saving Throws

Saving Throw Proficiency is a class feature. So it doesn’t apply yet.

10. Describing your Character

Choose a first name, simple physical details, alignment, and starting age. Don’t get all crazy with the details. The odds are not in your character’s favor, so wait until they make it to level 1 to get all fancy.

What about a Dungeon Crawl Adventure?

All of the Level 0 characters should be fleshed out now, and ready to tackle some 0 level encounters. Here is a good Level 0 adventure with some awesome backstory that can be played with level 0s. If the players are doing well, then make it harder:

If you’re the DM, then go ahead, and have some extra Level Zero characters prepared to bring into the game. Hand out the random characters, and have some fun. Remember, it’s okay if the encounter is overwhelming and kills 50% of the Level 0s. What doesn’t kill them makes them stronger! Well, the ones that survive without permanent disabilities.